This is the rubber game in the 3 game seasonal matchup between the Easts leaders. Pistons won the last time in Boston on that controversial last sec foul call and the Celts won one at the Palace.

So this is it. Will a win challange the Celts confidence if both teams keep pace and play each other in the ECF? We will see. Be nice to get this one.

Injuries:
Detroit: none
Boston: Tony Allen SG - day to day

Garnett returned from his abdominal strain on Sunday and put up 20 points and 16 boards. The Celtics have not played since then.

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Eight months after a blockbuster offseason made them instant NBA title contenders, the Boston Celtics still are looking to improve. The Detroit Pistons may be the Eastern Conference team with the best chance to stop them.
Newly acquired Sam Cassell won't be on the court for the Celtics' matchup with the Pistons on Wednesday night, but he could play a large role come May when these teams have a chance to meet in the conference finals.

Acquiring Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett in the offseason has helped give Boston (46-12) the league's best record, but it hopes to have picked up the last piece of a championship puzzle by signing Cassell to a contract Tuesday. The veteran point guard is headed to Baltimore to attend the funeral of a family member and won't be available Wednesday, but he is expected to be play Friday against Chicago.....

Detroit was beginning its worst stretch of the season when it last played Boston, losing 92-85 on Jan. 5. The Pistons went on to lose five of their next eight games.

Since then, however, Detroit has won 15 of its last 18 and has the league's second-best record. The Pistons came home from a 3-1 road trip to beat Seattle 100-97 on Tuesday night.

Both games were defensive battles with the losers scoring only 85 points each time. The Pistons IMO need to score at least 94 points to secure a victory and need to protect the paint so that there is no free chilli or layups/put backs. I am not worried that much about KG... just don't leave Ray open beyond the arc and don't let Pierce penetrate.

We can get few boards out of Dice, but when it is time to stop them Flip cannot be afraid to put in Amir and Max. Sheed needs to duplicate his performances in Phoenix and Los Angeles and play as this is a playoff game since that is supposedly what he is looking for.

I am not looking for the # 1 seed here. I just want the Celtics to worry for the rest of the season that we beat them on their parquet floor twice this season...

I am not looking for the # 1 seed here. I just want the Celtics to worry for the rest of the season that we beat them on their parquet floor twice this season...

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Amen...... The seed in meaningless, as been stated we are 0-2 in the Conference Finals with the number one seed. But want to keep the pressure on them to keep winning and playing there big 3 big mins while we keep winning playing the young guns....

This game means nothing to me. I'm ready for the playoffs. Pistons can win by 50 points and it will not keep them from getting swept in the EC finals if they don't "bring it" (as MadHatter likes to say)....

Ugly loss at both ends, the first six minutes and the last five minutes. Down 10 halfway through the first quarter, the Pistons managed to get back to within 1 with about 5 minutes left in the game, but then a total collapse led to a 12-0 Boston run to clinch it. Bad shooting, horriffically poor officiating (both ways)...no fun to watch. A whopping 5 points off the bench was one of the reasons for the loss, as was giving up 20(!!) rebounds to Kendrick Perkins.

Celtics pretty much clinched the #1 seed with this win. They're 5 up on the Pistons in the loss column, and with the season series 2-1 in their favor, it's effectively a 6 game lead with the tiebreaker. Pistons have an easier schedule down the stretch, but making up 6 games is very far-fetched.

Celtics pretty much clinched the #1 seed with this win. They're 5 up on the Pistons in the loss column, and with the season series 2-1 in their favor, it's effectively a 6 game lead with the tiebreaker. Pistons have an easier schedule down the stretch, but making up 6 games is very far-fetched.

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The #1 seed could end meaning who gets to play LeBron in the 2nd round. The Pistons might not even see Boston in the playoffs.